Chewy's stumach is hard....

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Sorry I missed this threat. How is Chewy doing? I was terrified at first thinking it may be bloat! But if he is going to the bathroom and is gassy, it is a good sign. I would still call the vet and explain what is going on. He/she will be able to give you better advice.

Feel Better Chewy boy!

[Sudilar]

Poor Chewy!! I'm glad he is better. I just got back to this thread.

Just a warning to everyone: even if you suspect that it could be bloat, please, please contact your vet immediately!! Two weeks ago, a friend of the family lost their 2 yr. old Dogue de Bordeaux from bloat. Our town's K-9 officer was also lost to bloat a few years back. This is a LIFE-THREATENING situation. I have the symptoms hanging on my fridge, just so we are always aware of them. GSDs have a high incidence of bloat.

So glad Chewy is ok.

[Cookiebaker]

I read the start of this thread early this morning, and am now scared because it is so serious, and DOES happen. Should I be concerned that Malone eats too fast?? He usually does a literal 15 second vacuum job on his bowl. Should I try to slow him down and how??

[turner]

Chewy is ok then? That was scary!!! Please keep us updated on Chewy!

[Aspen and Misty]

Chewy says Hee hee I had you all worried . He is doing better, still slugish. Well I kneew he was ok last nigth when I said Chewy do you need to go to the bet? And he looked at me for like 10 seconds and then bruped in my face. Ewww. LOL. He is so skinny again!!!! I think it was the gum or the onions he ate . My sister will never be able to watch him again. I woke up every 2 hours and took him otu and everytiem he had to go number 2. So he is all better now. His tummy is still a little larger then normal. He was my fat Chewy for a day . No more treats for him for a couple of days! He is sleeping on the floor beside me as I type this. I was so worried when I came home today. I yeleed Chewy really loud and he didn't come. I almost started to cry...I knew he was dead, but then here he come still a little fat obviouse sleeping still into the kitchen and woke up as soon as he saw he and made me feel like the best thing in the world, just like he always does .

Thank you everone for your concern adn expesially thankyou to Karen for putting up with me and all my silly questions. I am so gratefull that I have you all to be there when my Chewy is sick.

Again thank you,
Ash

[Cookiebaker]

Oh good!!! I have waited all day to hear what happened, and I'm sure you are sooo relieved that he is back to your old Chewy. I hope you have a much better evening/night tonight and get lots of sleep to make up for all those times you were up in the night last night!!!

[lv4dogs]

I hope everything is still progressing. I just read this and I thought it was bloat too then I continued to read and found out it is improving. Those are the signs of bloat and it is life threating in a short time. By the sounds of it he probably ate something that did not agree with him and he probably ate a lot of it! Keep a good eye on him!

[tatsxxx11]

Thank goodness Chewey is ok!!! And like Sue, I strongly suggest everyone familiarize themselves with the signs and symptoms of bloat, a TRUE life threatening emergency. The mortality rate is less than 20%! Dogs with deep chests, most large breeds in general, are very prone to bloat. My girls really "wolf" down their food. I put a large stone in their elevated bowls to slow them down and feed them 2 times a day. And I don't allow them any strenuous exercise or flat out running for 1 hr. after eating. This is one You really had me worried!

[Sudilar]

Originally posted by Aspen and Misty
I think it was the gum or the onions he ate

Aren't onions toxic to dogs??

[Aspen and Misty]

I don't know..O gee! DOn't scare me like that! Nwo I wont be able to sleep knowing my dog is going to die again. O gee I'm the worst motehr in the world.

Ash

[Karen]

Onions are toxic to dogs, and can make them sick, though it requires a quantity to be fatal, depending on the dog. Keep onions away from him. Little slivers are okay now and then, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Slow Malone down, if you want, by putting a large rock or something in his dish, but that's not the real problem. Owners of Great Danes and other large deep-chested dogs are always told NOT to let the dog exercize hard or play right before or right after eating - not for an hour or so after eating. A normal-paced walk is okay, that helps digest the food, but no running right after eating.

[ChrisAK]

I'm so glad to hear that everything is fine. I've been extremely busy with a very very short notice move. Although anticipated, they only gave DH less than a week to get packed. I will be following behind hopefully soon.

One other thing to watch out for and it does happen very rapidly is TORTION.

If you have a dog breed that is very deep chested or has a barrel chest this not uncommon. It can be fatal if not diagnosed quickly and can be hereditary (still being studied).

TORTION: is where the stomach twists and cuts off the blood supply to the rest of the digestive system. Once the blood flow is cut off, the rest of the surrounding tissue dies. It can come on very suddenly.

My breeder/rescuer girlfriend just had a 2 year female just pass away overnight from this. She was fine, not showing any symptoms of ailments, and had just gotten a thorough physical from the Specialist Vet with no problems (she was going to breed her this cycle).

What she did not know was the dog's grandfather had tortioned 2xs and died from the second event. The owner never entered this critical data in the pedigree or in the records, so when breeding occurred no one was aware of the potential hazard.

Since this happened, any pedigree associated with this particular stud has been notified.

One thing I like to tell everyone who asks about dogs, is always do your research, especially if you get one from a breeder (reputable or not). It's your money and some of the prices are steep.

[lovemymaltese]

hope that your feeling better Chewy.

[anna_66]

Oh Chewy, you had me soooo scared! I'm glad to hear your feeling better today.
Just to let you know...my Keisha monster died from this. If he gets "gassy" any more maybe your vet should check him out. Keisha just started off being "gassy" (happened 2 or 3 times).
And one day....it took her life. This is very serious. If your mother knows nothing about it maybe you should tell her to read up on it, even read my story about Keisha on my website, this is nothing to "not worry" about, I know first hand.